Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez believes that his players deserve a lot of the credit for a sensational run of results since the new year.

The club were in serious danger of relegation when the first half of the Premier League season had passed. Now they are secure in the knowledge they will be playing Premier League football next season.

Newcastle have 22 points from 12 games this year, including 16 from the past available 21!

"The players deserve huge credit for coming up from the Championship and, with not a great deal of resources compared with others, to have the season they are having," Benitez told Spanish station Radio Marca during a special programme to celebrate his 58th birthday on Monday.

"Everything is so tight that you can hit a period of six, seven or eight games without winning and you are in trouble. The team has had a sensational second half of the season.

"When a team goes down it is very hard to come straight back up and to then have the sort of season we are having. The supporters have been spectacular and they are really proud."